Wheelie Wednesday - Bailey & Judy makes Pancakes!

Hi everyone, Bailey here, AND me, Judy!
As you can see, I've, we've taken to cooking.
Yesterday was Shrove Tuesday, Pancake day, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras & Carnival - whatever, it was the day before Ash Wednesday & the start of Lent - that's today!
For those that observe religious thingy bobs, not Mistress for sure; that means 40 days of fasting or trying to give up something one wants big time, like chocolate or alcohol.
Now, there's was no chance, that, you know who, will go Tea-Total.
Or Miss Foxy will give up her superiority towards me.
Ouch, SHE wheelie wheeled me!
Judy here: He deserved it!
But we did all get together as a family, and follow the custom of a celebratory feast.
I collected the best eggs from Miss Henny Penny's cage, HE wanted to use the cheapo ones...In the end we used up both & all the milk in the house.
Opps! None was left for Mummys breakfast
I tackled the Lemons & Oranges...Bailey: And I did the serious work like beating the eggs...And heating up the brand new, non-stick pan...Mistress, then insisted, heavens knows why, on taking over from me.
Shucks, I was having such fun!
And, as she, seemed sadly, unable to do two tasks @ once; ie cook & take photo's; I can't show you the finished pancakes.
We, however, enjoyed them with freshly squeezed Lemon & Orange juice & sprinkles of sugar.
Judy :They were great; till, Mummy reminisced about a fancy variation, she'd tried once.
She made wholewheat [brown] pancakes & filled them with lemon curd & creme fraiche, before pouring Limoncello, an Italian liqueur, she'd brought back from Rome over them!
Grrr!
That Sis of mine always has to have the last word!
Till next time, keep paw happy!
Bye-de-Bye,
x"
Foxy love & wheelie wishes,
XXX

Postscript from Bailey!
I did indeed find a Valentine!
Sweet little wheelie miss Sally May, she maybe small but if she likes me...

Wheelie Wednesday - Judy on Books & Honey!

Hi, it's me Judy!

With nursing duties over, Woodstock & I have been spending some quiet time reading together...

You see, this was my Christmas pressie to him...

We may not have a Pooh Bear in the Hug, but we do love his stories!

And, in his honour, we're having crusty bread & Honey for tea today...

Wish you could all join us!

Who cares about sticky paws & wheels - it's scrummy!

Till next time, keep cosy!

Foxy love & wheelie wishes,
xxx

True Colours Thursday - RED!

Last week when I was relating Blue Bruge's story, I failed to mention that Mother also adopted another member of his former Hug from the Helen & Douglas Hospice charity shop.

Being something called a 'Scarlet Women' she thought, she really should have a RED bear, so she brought home Joey Tomato...

Mother named him Joey rather than the obvious Tommy, because not only is he Tomato RED, he bares the Italian Flag on his beary chest and she recalls going to a really fun Italian eatery called 'Joey Tomatos' while in Calgary, Canada.

It seems to have been a wise choice too, as he loves to cook pasta...

His finished dish today is supposed to look like this...

It is a very simple Jamie Oliver recipe & a favourite of Mothers.

250g mixed RED & yellow cherry tomatoes, halved

75g good black olives, stoned

1 clove of garlic, peeled & finely chopped

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

a bunch of fresh basil, leaves picked

a bunch of fresh marjoram, leaves picked

5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

200g spaghetti or linguine

sea salt & freshly ground black pepper

Parmesan cheese

In a large bowl, scrunch the tomatoes with your hands to slightly squash them & release their juices

Mix in the olives, garlic and vinegar.

Tear in the basil & marjoram leaves and pour in the olive oil.

Allow to sit for 10 minutes.

Cook your pasta in salted boiling water until al dente.

Drain and quickly toss in with the tomatoes.

Serve right away, with a little freshly grated Parmesan.

In anticipation, am off to find my RED napkin.
Hugs

Wheelie Wednesday - Judy & Peaches!

"Hi, it's me Judy...It's been a while since I've had a word, but no matter, unlike big Wheelie brother Bailey I'm not going to make an issue of it because I'm a lady!

Mummy came home with a box of juicy, ripe Nectarines yesterday.

She said, she wanted a Summer fruit fix that reminded her of better climes, as our English Summer has been a misery since June!!!

I checked out a small fruit...

It certainly smelt really delectable, so fragrant.

But, Miss Peaches quickly had her paws in the box, demanding to know why Nectarines not Peaches...

Mummy explained because, they are always not 'free stone' & so tough skinned, unlike those from sunny BC in Canada or the States!

Anyway, we both hoped she might make Peach or rather Nectarine Melba as the Bear Hug & I are still, anxiously awaiting our very first taste of this much moated thing called Ice Cream!

But, no!

It's becoming a bit of an issue here, especially since we all read on Buttons blog about his Mom actually making her own!

If only, if only, Mummy had a sweet touth rather than a savoury one!

Anyway, next week I hope to visit my bestest 'wheelie' friend Autumn.

Her folks are going away on vacation, so I plan to wheelboat across the 'Pond' to the States to have afternoon tea with her!

Tell you all about it soon.

Foxy love & wheelie wishes,
xxx"

Saturday Photo Hunters - Utensils!

I thought, I would join Mother and do tnchick's prompt meme again!

The other evening, it was all paws and wheels to the deck to make supper.

The 'Wheelies' and I being very utensil friendly.

Here's me, grinding the mixed Peppercorns with a Pestle & Mortar...

Miss Judy, niftly weighed the Mushrooms in 'Wheelie' sized Scales...

Bailey, is ready to beat the Eggs, they are just waiting to be seasoned with my Pepper...

And Skipper - well, he is all too handy with a kitchen knife - the less said the better...

What were we, all helping to make?

A Mushroom & Courgette [or Zucchini to my North American friends] Flan.

Or Quiche, if we want to be cosmopolitan!

Mother made the shortcrust wholewheat pastry.

There's no photographs of the finished meal, as she, was more interested in eating it @ that stage!!!

Did we, her valved helpers get a taste?

NO!

Hugs from a hungry,

x

M is for!

Regretably I, have missed a few ABC letters recently.
But, this weeks, must stand for Marmalade or marvelously manufactured Marmite.
Now, I like Mother, much prefer savoury Marmite.
Hot toasted buttered Crumpets spread with said Marmite & served with cool crisp Cucumber slices - yummy, yummy!
Yet, hug member Paddington is now torn between the two.
His original love was Marmalade.
But, a recent advertising campaign has seen him favour Marmite...

Last July, he, Paddington celebrated his 50th Bearday!
It seems hard to believe that it is that long since, author Michael Bond, first wrote about the arrival of a small, blue duffle coated, bear from deepest, darkest Peru, @ Paddington Station, baring that most famous label "Please look after this Bear. Thank you."
Mother, finally acquired her very own cuddlesome Paddington, anniversary edition no less then.
He arrived home in her wicker basket...Well, she was not going to make him travel in a plastic bag @ his mature age.
Hugs,

PS...
Am posting a day early, as a certain disgruntled Wheelie boy, insists on having a say tomorrow!

Monochrome Monday - Silver Bears!

Do you remember these chocolate bears from my ABC Wednesday post for the letter C???...Since, I still have not brought myself, to eat all of them yet, lined up the survivors, for a Aileni photograph shoot!
It is interesting, how Gold becomes Silver in Black and White!
Yes, I have the makings of a fine Monochrome Maniac.
Hugs,

E is for...!

Extraordinarily, hard this E letter in today's alphabet meme!
I eventually, settled on entertaining, a few of my introduced Hug Members - from left to right, Miss Merry, me, youngsters Ollie & Fushia...Everyone, enjoyed early afternoon tea and Eccles cakes, eaten before the photograph!
Hugs,

C is for...!

I have decided to contribute to the ABC challenge again!
Cause, excuse my lapse into colloquial English - C can only stand for my very own confectionery container...What does it contain?
Candies - No!
Chocolates, but not just any old chocolates...A collective of Chocolate Bears.
Now being a caring character, I was initially concerned about consuming these little chappies...But, after careful consideration, I decide I could with a clear conscious as cannot have them creating havoc in the greater Hug!

An Award!

Am amazed!
Almost speechless but not quite!
Only been blogging a few days and already have an Award!
Must indicate, instant recognition of my superior qualities etc.
Aunt BJ, who writes exceedingly well; is quite a script HERE - has passed this one, onto both Mother & I..This *** Award is apparently, bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog's content is, in the giver's opinion Brilliant.
Well, I knew I was Good.
But, 'Thank-you' Aunt BJ, for recognising this, so early on!
It is much appreciated.

The rules:
"When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to said person so everyone knows he or she is real.
Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design.
Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have 7 friends.
Show the 7 random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Weblog.”
Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon.
List at least ten honest things about yourself.
Then, pass it on! "

So, who, to Award - am a bit flumaged here.
Just gifting it to those, who show qualities I admire!
1. Edward - no explanation needed really, a Bear of my own class!
2. Bob. T Bear, esq - lively entertaining young chap!
3. Dina, charming lady - left me a comment on my Monochrome post!
4. Maggie & Mitch, superior Aires.
5. Molly & Taffy, as family, per Mother!
Would tag Bear Naked, a human with Bear class, but @ the moment she has to to watch over Monsieur Bear.
6. Eduardo, anyone who snuggles that much, must have a good heart!
7. Asta, this sassy WFT lady, reminds me of Miss Judy!

And, now, let me see, what I should reveal about myself.
Am quite a private bear really.
However, here goes TEN [honest] random things about me:
1. I wear a collar, sadly with a bell!
But, the collar does help support my poor neck & the bell alerts Mother when I take a tumble.
2. My leather paw pads have water stains!
I suspect I may have gone for a paddle @ some time in the fountains of my birth place.
3. I prefer sleeping on my own - more den space to stretch out in.
4. Do not acknowledge any shortening of my name - consider it very bad form.
5. I prefer reading 'Winnie the Pooh' by A. A. Milne, to Michael Bond's 'Paddington Bear'.
6. But, definitely not that keen on Honey, far too sticky & sweet.
Much prefer Marmalade, though in truth, am more a savoury Marmite type of individual .
7. My favourite ever television serial is 'Brideshead Revisited', shown originally in 1981.
It is based on Evelyn Waugh's 1945 novel of the same name.
This choice is naturally because of Aloysius Bear!
He accompanied his owner Sebastian Flyte, a young man of good upbringing but a dreamer to study @ Dreamingpsires.
After leaving university they travel together in an open-top Morris on journey to Italy and other countries in Europe.
Aloysius is spoiled and neglected but mostly cuddled.
Have not seen the more recent cinematic version; must have Mother find a copy.
8. I HATE the cold & ice, even with my cosy mohair coat.
9. Am not ticklish, but have a sensitive spot in my lower spine.
10. My last wish is to be loved to death!
Done my best here!
Hugs to all,